(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – January 16, 2015) – It just wasn’t enough for Empire Racing to top the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards charts in open testing at Daytona Int’l Speedway back in December. One month later, Empire returned and did it again, topping the charts with the No. 48 Hylton-Empire Ford Fusion with Sean Corr at the helm Friday afternoon at the “World Center of Racing”. Corr was fastest overall with a speed of 187.692 mph.

Then, in the final seconds, right before the five o’clock closing bell, his Empire Racing teammates Austin Hill and Patrick Staropoli drafted their way to the front, taking their places in second and third right behind the boss.

“I thought we’d have our hands full with three cars…I can’t believe how amazing this crew was today,” Corr said. “We don’t have a lot of guys. I thought they’d be completely overwhelmed but they had a game plan for everything…they were amazing. We brought that other Ilmor (396 engine) car down. We just measured everything exactly from my car…mimicked every line, everything the exact same way. It was the perfect three-car train. We may have to turn that third car into an Ilmor. All three are planning to come back for the race.”

Newcomer Austin Hill, with a legacy engine, was second overall at 187.165 mph in the No. 8 Ford Fusion, sandwiched in between Corr and Staropoli. Staropoli, whose speed was 187.126 mph in the No. 82 Ford Fusion, made it to the test just in time.

“It was an eventful day,” Staropoli said. “Drove down at the last second. I had an exam in Miami this morning. Drove up right after that…got here about 3:30. Everyone was drafting at that point. That last run…wow…it was the best run all day. We came down with a different car this time…had the Ilmor motor in it. It pulled a little better, but all three of Empire’s cars were great. I want to thank American RF for helping me get here. I learn more every time I go out there…I’m really excited for the race.”=”300″ class=”size-medium wp-image-282″ /> Daytona ARCA 2015 January test.[/caption]

(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – December 20, 2014) – If the annual ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards open test at Daytona Int’l Speedway is an indicator of which teams will be top contenders in the 52nd running of the Lucas Oil 200 in February, then Empire Racing is in a really good place. In fact, the team took the top three spots on the charts among the 49 drivers who posted time and speed over the two-day test Friday and Saturday at the “World Center of Racing.” Sean Corr, in the No. 48 Empire Racing-Hylton Motorsports Ford, led the way around the 2.5-mile superspeedway in 47.743 seconds, an average speed of 188.509 mph. His teammate, rookie Patrick Staropoli, was second and third on the charts with speeds of 188.478 mph in the No. 8 Empire Racing Ford, and 188.344 mph after he hopped in the 48 car for a few rounds. Corr was in a familiar car, the same one that the Goshen, N.Y. driver earned the Menards Pole Award presented by Ansell in at Daytona in 2012. Corr also finished fifth at Daytona in 2013 and 10th in 2014 in the same machine. Corr is utilizing the new ARCA Ilmor 396 engine. “We’ve been running the new Ilmor motor; it’s an amazing powerplant,” Corr said. “The pull off the corners is incredible; it just wants to go. I’d fall behind them down the backstretch just to see what would happen and they’d pull away in (turn) three, but coming off four it’d power right back up to the pack. It’s an amazing motor. This is also my first time with fuel injection…everything I’ve ever raced before was with a carburetor, but this entire package is making a believer out of me.” Staropoli, considering his story, got his share of headlines too over the weekend. “This wasn’t exactly supposed to happen,” said Staropoli, a Harvard graduate. “One of Empire’s drivers got really sick so we got a call Thursday night to see if I’d be interested. So l left Charlotte right away, drove all night and got here at four in the morning, slept for about an hour, and came out to the track. “It’s more than I could have hoped for. I still can’t believe it. I just want to thank Richard Hardin of American RF…he found out that Sean Corr was looking for a driver, and got in touch with me. This is amazing. The biggest track I had ever been on before was Iowa. “I had no idea what to expect. The only race I’ve ever run here was on the backstretch in a K&N car so I had no idea what I was getting into. I’ve never drafted before, but it’s the coolest thing…to feel how the wind moves and shoves the car around. Hopefully I’ve turned some heads and opened some doors. I’m so hoping I get to come back here and race. This place is amazing,” added the 25-year-old Plantation, Fla. driver. Staropoli was utilizing a Roush Yates engine in the 8 car. Corr is planning to return for more ARCA testing at Daytona in January.“We still have one more complete car at the shop…the vin number is just one off this car,” Corr said. “We’re going to bring the sister car back for the January test to see how it goes with the Ilmor, but I’m not getting out of my primary car for the race…I’m too attached to it.” aking a believer out of me.”

Team ERGis looking taking 2 ARCA cars for the open test at Daytona Speedway this December. Sources speculate that there are 2 maybe 3 drivers signed up to test for ARCA in 2015, all of which will be out of the Empire Racing Group camp.

Eckes landed the pole position in the 50 lap Challenger Race Quite an accomplishment for young man in his first-ever NASCAR Late model stock race event. Eckes continued through the race on the lead lap with a 2nd place finish. Eckes remained focus throughout the race with the direction and guidance of his Crew Chief, Mike ‘Grumpy’ Cheek.

Eckes also raced that same weekend in the Sunday’s Pro-Stock race event where Eckes qualified 11th, and completed the 100 lap race in the 7th position.

Eckes is a resident of New York and has won many Legendstock series races as well as Bandolero races in his short racing career.

“Christian has a very promising future in racing and I am stoked that Christian and his dad George Eckes have put their faith and trust in me as well as the whole team here at ERG to help advance Christian’s racing career to the next level.” said Grumpy.

To date, Eckes has scored a pole, one 2nd place finish, and one 7th place finish in the SELLM events, both at Caraway, (N.C.) Speedway. Not a bad start for the 13-year-old.

Eckes joined Empire Racing Group at the end of the 2014 race season after completing his Legendstock racing in Las Vegas where he finished 3rd in the National Race of Champions and 2nd in the Inex Legend Nationals.

Next race for SELLM will be at Myrtle Beach Speedway to be held on Sunday, November 16th.

(Mooresville, NC – Oct., 28th, 2014) – Empire Racing very happy with the results of the NCWTS Racing Event at Martinsville Speedway and very pleased with Rookie Driver Cody Erickson.

“I am definitely pleased with the results of Saturday’s race and to have our day end with a clean race and finish.” Mike ‘Grumpy’ Cheek said. “I am so very proud of our team and Cody for all the hard work this weekend.”

During the 200 lap Kroger 200 event, Erickson, with the guidance of Crew Chief, Mike ‘Grumpy’ Cheek, and Spotter Rick Coleman, kept Erickson focused throughout the race to finish in the 23rd position.

“Cody did a great job for his first-time ever racing an asphalt track in the NCWTS.” Owner Sean Corr said. The team more than exceeded my goals and performance in the No. 82 ERG Ford.

ABOUT EMPIRE RACING GROUP

Empire Racing Group and Grumpy’s Performance Inc. is a driver-development team based in Mooresville, N.C. Team officials strive to identify and develop young, talented drivers who want to advance their racing career.

(MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Oct. 17, 2014) – Empire Racing Group headed to Martinsville, Speedway. UNOH graduate Cody Erickson, 25, will make his first start on the famous .526 Mile Paved Track in the 16th Annual Kroger “200” NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Event. ERG is proud to partner with Erickson once again in the No. 82 Ford F-150 on October 25th, 2014 in Saturday’s NCWTS race in Martinsville.

Erickson made his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start at Eldora Speedway in July 2014.